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Detroit Lions not concerned with rookie kicker Nate Freese's range

Nate Freese

Kicker Nate Freese matched his career-long when he hit a 52-yard game winner for Boston College last season, but the Detroit Lions rookie feels his range extends well beyond what he attempted in college.
(AP File Photo)

ALLEN PARK -- If he had enough attempts to qualify, Baltimore's Justin Tucker would be the most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history. In two seasons, he has converted on a staggering 91.9 percent of his attempts.

Tucker went undrafted in 2012, passed over by all 32 teams time and time again, before he was signed by the Ravens as a free agent.

Now, what if you were told the collegiate resumes of Tucker and Detroit Lions' seventh-round pick Nate Freese are strikingly similar?

Both handled kickoffs, punts and field goals for their schools. Tucker made 83.3 percent of his three-pointers for the University of Texas, while Freese knocked down 86.4 percent at Boston College, including all 20 his senior season.

Punting, Tucker averaged 40.3 yards with a long of 70. Freese checked in with a 41.1-yard average and long of 67.

Freese was better on kickoffs, too, netting touchbacks 46.4 percent of the time (69.9 percent as a senior), while Tucker finished his collegiate career at just 19.5 percent.

The question mark with Freese is his range. His long at Boston College was 52 yards. Tucker, who is also the NFL's preeminent long-distance kicker (61-yard game-winner, anyone?), also had a long of 52 in college.

Does any of this mean Freese is destined to become the NFL's next great kicker? Well, let's not get carried away. But he's confident he can convert from 60 yards given the opportunity, especially now that his home games will be indoors at Ford Field.

"The past four years I've been in Boston under not ideal situations," Freese said. "The stadium is really windy and cold, so I'm really excited to be playing indoors."

The conditions in Boston should prepare Freese for the blustery, inclement, and sometimes downright frigid conditions he'll face during annual road games in Chicago and Green Bay.

Last season, the Lions drafted punter Sam Martin, another under-the-radar special teams talent. After a couple months working with Detroit special teams coordinator John Bonamego, Martin was able to improve his distance and consistency.

General manager Martin Mayhew is confident Bonamego will be able to do the same for Freese.

"Bono (John Bonamego) will get working on his technique and stuff, so we'll see how he does," Mayhew said. "He's been very consistent and very accurate. He has not been a guy that's booming 58-yard field goals, but these guys develop over time and mature. We'll see how strong his leg gets when he gets here."

Freese will take the field as a member of the Lions for the first time during the team's rookie minicamp, which gets underway on Friday.